KYLE LEATHERBERRY TALKS THE BEAST OF TRINITY TEXAS
"Every set I’m on reminds me of why"
Daniel John
The film ‘The Beast of Trinity Texas’ is a thriller about a small east Texas-town unraveling as a series of murders leaves the town to confront whether the threat lies in human nature or within the wilderness itself, what was your visit to Trinity like?
'The Beast of Trinity Texas' was such a fun experience. My role of Corin opens the movie telling a story around a campfire helping to set the thriller tone. Terry Weaver, the director, writer and producer spent so much time putting the project together so I was honored to be involved. He is such a talented creator, and I look forward to working with him again.
You first went out to LA to make raps. How did you end up moving into the pictures instead?
I do not even wanna know how you found out I went out to LA to pursue a rap career (laughs). That was just always my main love, music. I had always modeled in Miami before that and had done a little bit of theater growing up so the transition into acting was not that difficult. Finding the passion for acting that I have for music took a little bit longer, though. Very happy with the balance and would not trade the experiences in the music business for anything. I will say, pursuing both careers impacted my dedication, it was basically hard to give a hundred percent to both so I ultimately chose acting.
How do you engage with music these days?
I mostly just listen to music these days. Every once in a while, I will write, but there is so much good music out there. I am mainly just listening to it. For me it has always been relaxing and therapeutic to put on some headphones and turn up the music.
'Blood Runs' was a film you both starred in and directed, do you envision doing more work where you take more control over the project behind of the camera?
Absolutely. 'Blood Runs' is still one of my favorite projects I’ve ever done. I’ve learned so much from it. I am working on producing a few things now with a couple people that I can’t release names of yet but have been spending a lot of time developing these specific projects as I did with 'Blood Runs'. It takes a lot of time to produce something, but I really did enjoy it. Putting together a team of people and seeing the outcome is very satisfying.
Are there any other sets that you have been on recently, in any capacity, that reminded you why you do this?
Another great question. Every set I’m on reminds me of why I do this, it’s for the experience. I just got back from Thailand for a commercial production that ended up being one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I also recently shot an episode of 'RJ Decker' that will be coming out on ABC in March. I have an excellent agent and feel very lucky and blessed to continue to receive opportunities.
It’s an industry where even landing a big role doesn’t guarantee everything will fall into place after it. How are you with the fact things will not always happen?
It has definitely been a difficult career path at times but booking a job makes it all worth it. We ended last year with so many excellent auditions, which I am very thankful for. Unfortunately not as many bookings as I would like but enough to keep going like always. It’s nice to see the same casting offices call me back and believe in me over the last ten or twenty years and I will always be amazed how things come full circle, hard work always pays off!
